Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Mateo

Ever since I was young, I've had a love of science and a strong desire to contribute to my community. As a high-school student I would teach ecology to sixth graders on overnight camping trips. Following my inclination for science, I obtained a degree in Materials Engineering and worked for nearly two decades as a semiconductor process engineer - ten of those at Intel while living here in San Mateo.

Over time, however, I found myself increasingly seeking opportunities to become more involved with and support the well-being of my city and community. At Intel I was a member of its Intel Volunteer Advisory Committee and helped manage its Habitat for Humanity Program and local Community Giving Campaign. Ultimately I returned to school to obtain my Masters in Public Administration and transitioned into a full-time career of public service. My Masters Thesis, for which I received an award, focused on understanding civic engagement best practices across San Mateo County.

Over the last several years, I have gained an in-depth understanding of the issues our city faces and how those challenges can be met through my recent and current work on local commissions (Planning and Community Relations), involvement in my neighborhood and citywide home associations, work in my neighborhood on teen alcohol and drug abuse prevention and tutoring at-risk youth, my advanced degree in public administration (National Honors Society), and my current job as Program Manager for a local nonprofit that seeks to ensure that everyone who works or grows up here also has the ability to live here in a healthy and sustainable manner.

I truly believe that underpinning a strong, healthy community is the need to maintain a high quality of life and ensure that all of our residents have the opportunity to prosper.